Viking Therapeutics Appoints Dorothy Gemmell to Board of Directors
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has announced the appointment of Dorothy Gemmell to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Viking is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders.
Ms. Gemmell brings over 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare, digital health, and commercialization. She has held positions as president or chief commercial officer at several companies, including GoodRx, Capsule, and Havas Life. In these roles, she has been instrumental in growth initiatives, organizational scaling, and revenue model development across various markets. Additionally, she provides advisory services to venture- and private equity-backed companies regarding go-to-market strategies and commercialization efforts. Ms. Gemmell earned a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from McGill University.
Brian Lian, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Viking Therapeutics, expressed his support for Ms. Gemmell's appointment, stating, "Dorothy joins our Board as Viking advances its next-generation therapies, prepares for VK2735's potential launch, and strengthens our commercialization capabilities." He emphasized her ability to translate innovation into commercial success as an important asset for the company.
In her statement, Ms. Gemmell highlighted the significance of scientific innovation in addressing healthcare challenges, particularly for those living with obesity and chronic metabolic diseases. She expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the Viking team to advance the company's innovative therapy portfolio, specifically VK2735, which aims to change the standard of care for weight loss.
Lawson Macartney, D.V.M., Ph.D., Viking's chairman, commented on Ms. Gemmell's appointment, noting that her commercial expertise complements the Board's strengths in pharmaceutical development. He believes her experience in commercialization strategies will be valuable as Viking aims to achieve its long-term goals.
Viking Therapeutics is engaged in advancing a portfolio of therapies for obesity and metabolic diseases, guided by expertise in metabolic biology and rigorous scientific research. Its lead program, VK2735, is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical studies for obesity, along with additional pipeline programs targeting various metabolic conditions.